Scale it. Fund it. Lead it well.
Close enough to be useful. Independent enough to be honest.
Growing the business, raising the money to fund it, and leading well once other people's money is in. You make the call. I sit beside you while you do.
Most founders arrive with one decision. It usually sits in one of three places.
Scaling
People, structure, and leading a bigger business than the one you started.
Read on scalingStewardship
Leading after the raise. Investors, the board, and where the money goes.
Read on stewardshipRaising social or impact investment? The same three questions apply.
What are you really deciding?
Six questions on the decision taking up the most space in your head. Two minutes. No email needed to see your reading.
You'll find out whether it's deferred, crowded, misframed or solitary, and what usually helps.
Where does this decision sit?
Just you. Your team. Or founders like you.
01 · Where most work begins
One-to-one
Start with a Decision Review. Three weeks on one decision, ending in a clear recommendation. Many clients then keep me in the second chair through Retained Advisory.
Decision Review and Retained AdvisoryWith your team or board
Executive Facilitation for the people who have to own the decision with you. Leadership teams before a raise. Boards and investors after it.
Executive FacilitationWith your peers
The Mastermind. Eight to ten founders at the same moment, one confidential room. For founders after the raise, or the Impact edition for purpose-led CEOs.
The MastermindRecent essays from The Quiet Work.
The CEO Charter
Your team is already decoding how you work. Write it down, and stop charging them the guessing tax.
Read on The Quiet Work Raising capital · For subscribersThe Complete Growth Capital Playbook
Ask what capital you need, not what you can get. And what it will cost you in money, control and time.
Read on The Quiet Work Stewardship · EssayThe Long Game
Why short-term thinking costs leaders, companies and countries, and what stewardship asks of us instead.
Read on The Quiet WorkThe thinking behind the work
Essays on scaling, raising and leading well with other people's money. Read before you reach out, or instead of it. Free every fortnight.
"I had the most experienced leadership team in the room. What I did not have was anyone willing to name the decision we were all avoiding. David named it in the first session."
"It was refreshing to work with David on the bigger picture of funding for a non profit"